CHEMICAL SAFETY
CHEMICAL SAFETY
Control of exposure to potentially hazardous substances to attain an acceptably
low risk of exposure
HAZARD
Potential to Harm
Associated with the specific chemical and proportions of that chemical
RISK
Probability Harm could happen
CHEMICAL HAZARDS / CHEMICAL TOXICITY
Acute (Short term, Poisons, Asthmagens) like Cyanide and Strychnine
Chronic (Long term, Carcinogens, Reproductive)
Ex of Chronic. Vinyl Chloride (Liver cancer), Asbestos (Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer),
Thalidomide (Developmental Birth Defects)
CATEGORIES OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS
Corrosive
Flammable
Toxic
Reactive
Carcinogen (Cancer-Causing)
Radioactive
RADIATION HAZARDS
Ionizing Radiation (Alpha, Beta, Gamma Rays, X-Rays & Neutrons)
Radioactive Isotopes - Tritium (H3), Carbon (C-14), Sulfur-35, Phosphorus-32/33,
Iodine-135
Non-Ionizing Radiation (UV Spectrometers, NMR, MRI, Microwave, Lasers)
PHYSICAL STATES OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
Solid
Gas
Liquid
Vapor
Fumes
Mists
ROUTES OF EXPOSURE
Inhalation
Ingestion
Absorption (Eyes, Skin)
Injection
SYMPTOMS OF POSSIBLE EXPOSURE
Eye Discomfort
Breathing Difficulty
Dizziness
Headache
Nausea
Vomiting
Skin Irritation
CHEMICAL LABEL
Consists of the following:
Signal Words
Hazard Statements
Symbols / Pictograms
Precautionary Statements
SIGNAL WORDS
"Danger" or "Warning"
Emphasize the hazard and indicate the relative level of severity
Danger for more severe
Warning for less severe
HAZARD STATEMENTS
Standardized and assigned phrases that describe the Hazard as determined by
classification
"Causes eye irritation"
"Toxic if inhaled"
"Flammable aerosol"
"May cause cancer"
"May cause respiratory irritation"
"Harmful to aquatic life"
"Contains gas under pressure; may explode if heated"
SYMBOLS / PICTOGRAMS
Convey information
HEALTH HAZARD
Carcinogen
Mutagenicity
Reproductive Toxicity
Respiratory Sensitizer
Target Organ Toxicity
Aspiration Toxicity
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD
Aquatic Toxicity
EXCLAMATION MARK
Irritant (Skin and Eye)
Skin Sensitizer
Acute Toxicity
Narcotic Effects)
Respiratory Tract Irritant
Hazardous to Ozone Layer
SKULL & CROSSBONES
Acute Toxicity (Fatal or Toxic)
GAS CYLINDER
Gases Under Pressure
Pressurized Gas / Non-Flammable Gas
SPILLED CHEMICALS ON HAND
Skin
Corrosive / Burns
Eye Damage
Corrosive to Metals
EXPLODING BOMB
Explosives
Self-Reactives
Organic Peroxides
FLAME OVER CIRCLE
Oxidizer
FLAMMABLE
Flammables
Pyrophorics
Self-Heating
Organic Peroxides
PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS
Standardized explanations of the measures to be taken to minimize or prevent
adverse effects
Prevention, Response, Storage and Disposal
Prevention - "Wear Protective Gloves"
Response - "If inhaled, remove person to fresh air."
Storage - "Store in well ventilated place"
Disposal - "Waste must be disposed of in accordance with federal, state and local
environmental control regulations"
GENERAL SAFETY GUIDELINES IN CHEMICAL HANDLING
Never eat, drink or smoke while handling chemicals
Use personal protective equipment
All chemical containers should be properly labeled
Always wash after using chemicals
Never smell or taste a chemical to identify it
Know all emergency procedures and equipment
Read labels' SDS prior to use
Store chemicals properly
INCOMPATIBLE CHEMICALS
Never Mix or Store at the same Storage
Flammables and Oxidizers
Flammables and any Ignition Source
Acids & Cyanides
Strong Acids & Strong Alkalines
Concentrated Acids & Water
Organic Solvents & Corrosives
Corrosives & other reactive materials
HIERARCHY OF CONTROLS IN CONTROLLING CHEMICAL HAZARDS
CONTROL
How are the risks controlled?
ELIMINATION
Removing the Hazard
Imagine you use Sulphuric Acid in the lab. There are a number of controls you can
introduce. Like having staff wear chemical resistant gloves and goggles, storing the
acid in a dedicated acid cabinet made from high density polyethylene and
developing work procedures that ensure empty containers are never reused. While
all of the above control measures will reduce the harm, the hazard still exists — so
an elimination control will always be better because it would look for ways to stop
using the chemical completely.
SUBSTITUTION
Replacing the Hazard with less hazardous or non-chemical alternatives
Aim is to make products safer in terms of health and environment
The aim of substitution is to phase out hazardous substances or replace them with
less hazardous alternatives for safe handling during manufacture, use and waste
management/recycling.
It is sometimes necessary to phase out certain substances because they become
restricted or prohibited by law.
It may also be a question of meeting customer demands for safer products that
are better for human health and the environment.
It is possible to stay ahead of legislation and phase out or substitute substances
which are hazardous, but not yet covered by any regulations. This is particularly
desirable in the case of products that could entail high or long-term exposure for
humans and/or the environment.
1. Gather Information on Chemicals used
A prerequisite for substituting hazardous substances is to prepare an inventory of
chemicals being handled by your company. This could be substances which are
present in products or waste products after manufacture, or substances which are
used in manufacturing processes.
1. Identify unwanted substances
The second step in the process involves identifying substances to substitute. If
your company does not manufacture articles or products, but are an importer of
articles, the request specifications you impose on your suppliers will be your
primary tool in the substitution process.
1. Find available alternative substances or new technical solutions
The third step in the substitution process involves drawing up an inventory of
available alternatives to identify substances with an equivalent function. This could
entail finding other chemical or non-chemical alternatives, materials or other
technical solutions. This could for example be a question of substituting material A
with material B because material B does not require a particular additive, which has
hazardous properties.
1. Evaluate and select alternative substances or new technical solutions
The fourth step requires that you have collected sufficient information in order to
compare and assess the alternatives, so that you can select a substitute for a
particular application. Identifying a substitute can be a knowledge- and resource-
demanding process. Key considerations which you should take into account are
the hazardous properties of the substitute, relative exposure (e.g. compare the
difference in total exposure between the current substance and the substitute),
technical performance, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and cost.
1. Develop new alternative substances or new technical solutions
The fifth step in the substitution process involves developing new sustainable
substances or techniques. In the absence of suitable and available alternatives, new
innovations and/or techniques may be necessary. In this case, the companies are
responsible for driving development.
When a new substance or technique is developed, it has to be applied, improved
and further communicated within the supply chain.
Ex.
Replacing a solvent-based paint with a water-based paint. This eliminates the harmful
fumes and flammable vapors that result from using, and cleaning up after using a
solvent-based paint.
ENGINEERING CONTROLS
Enclosure / Isolation
Ventilation / Hoods, Barriers
Change the Process / Eliminate the Hazard
Substitution (non-hazardous for hazardous) - Toluene for Benzene
Isolate or enclose the process or worker
Ventilation
A. Dilution (General Ventilation)
B. Local Exhaust Ventilation - Preferred - Ex. Snorkels, Vented Enclosures, Glove
Boxes, Isolation Chambers
ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS
Organizational Safety Policies that apply to everyone
Emergency Plan
Administrative Practices
Operational Practices / Work Practices
LAB SAFETY POLICIES
Have a Safety Manual
Never work alone, especially after office hours.
Specify when eye protection & PPE is required.
Specify operations that require hood use.
Specify required training.
No mouth pipetting.
No long hair or dangling attire.
No eating, drinking, smoking in
laboratories
Label all chemical containers
Label refrigerators, No Food
Label explosion safe refrigerators
Require periodic fire drills
Packages opened only in labs, not at the receiving office
Receiving staff trained to look for signs of breakage and/or leaking shipments
Receiving area has Spill Kits
Mailroom/receiving alert for suspicious Shipments
Close sash when not in use
Use hoods properly:
Work 15 cm (6”) in from sash
In center of hood
Work with hood sash at ~45cm (18”) high
Don’t use for storage
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
eye protection, gloves
laboratory coats. etc.
respirators
appropriate foot
EMERGENCY PLANNING & RESPONSE
Have routine, unannounced evacuation drills
Designate a person for each area to ensure that inner rooms are evacuated.
Locate outside staging areas at sufficient distance from the building.
Test and maintain alarms.
Post a person to meet/direct emergency vehicles
Post each room with:
Emergency phone numbers
After hour phone number
Person(s) to be contacted
Alternate person(s)
Unique procedures to be followed
HANDLING CHEMICAL EMERGENCIES
Know emergency phone numbers
Know how to control the spill
Know proper equipment shutdown procedure
Know proper evacuation routes and assembly areas
CHEMICAL LABORATORY FIRST AID
First aid kits for minor injuries should be
Use for minor accidents/incidents.
Determine if medical attention is necessary.
Immediately notify proper authorities, if
Determine if chemical exposure occurred.
If necessary, take immediate preventative centrally located and available in or
nearby each laboratory
WOUNDS
If bleeding is profuse, apply steady, direct pressure over the wound using a sterile
dressing, if possible, or clean cloth.
Keep the wound as clean as possible.
Remove or cut away any clothing covering the wound.
Flush with water to wash out loose dirt and debris.
Do NOT try to remove foreign matter embedded in the wound
If there is an impaled object, Do NOT try to remove it. Efforts to do so may cause
severe bleeding and further damage
Control bleeding by direct pressure, but do not apply pressure on the impaled
object itself or on immediately adjacent tissues.
Stabilize the impaled object with a bulky dressing
THERMAL BURNS
Immerse Burned area in cold water or apply cold compresses for 30 mins
Do not attempt to rupture blisters on burn
FIRST AID FOR CHEMICALS IN EYES
Immediately wash eyes with water
Don't rub the eyes
Hold eyelids open and flush with water for 15 mins
Be careful not to contaminate other eye
If wearing contact lens, remove immediately
Do not bandage eye
FIRST AID FOR CHEMICAL INHALATION
Move victim to fresh air
FIRST AID FOR CHEMICAL INGESTION
Induce vomiting only if told to do so by Poison Control
Get immediate medical attention
FIRE
Rapid Oxidation of Material in the Exothermic Process chemical process of
Combustion, releasing Heat, Light and various reaction products
Usually occurs when source of heat comes in contact with combustible material in
presence of air
Occurs when 3 elements are present:
Oxygen - Present in air
Ignition Source - can be in form of Heat
Fuel - can be in Solid, Liquid or Gas or Chemical
HANDLING FLAMMABLE CHEMICALS
Keep containers closed when not in use
Keep away from Ignition Sources
Avoid contact with incompatible materials
Only transfer to approved containers
Bond all receiving containers
Clean up spills and dispose waste properly
